Press Freedom: Journalist Arrested, Tortured, Money Stolen, Colleagues Hit Back.

 By Raymond Dingana

Journalists in Bamenda, chief town of the NWR of Cameroon have been reacting with disdain following the arrest and torture of one of theirs. According to Martial, Thomas Mokom working with NDEFCAM Radio was arrested by soldiers in Kejom Ketingo also known as Small Babanki on Sunday August 15,2020. Reacting to the information, some journalists say, the war against the Press in Bamenda is a lost battle for whoever waged it. Talking to DrayInfos, Gina says, what happened to Mokom is unacceptable:

“I don’t understand why he was tortured. Journalism is not a crime. We are reporters, not activists. They should not give a journalist a bad name just to hang him or her. I think Cameroon still has a long way to go when it comes to freedom of the press and the protection of journalists. Arresting a journalist in the line of duty is very common in Cameroon. We don’t carry guns, why target us”? Gina asked.

To Simon,not real name and a journalist in Bamenda, only the weak will attack those whose job is to inform and educate the population: “I was told in school that, my mission as a journalist is to inform, entertain and educate the people. In Cameroon, this mission seem to be crime especially if you are not the type that sings government praises or say the things government love to hear. The moment you speak truth to power, you are tagged and anything can happen”.

It should be noted that, Thomas Mokom was arrested on August 15, 2020 in Small Babanki in Tubah Sub Division, a day after he had taken part in the burial of his aunt, Justine Mokom. He says it all started when he went out to eat after attending a meeting of  sons and daughters of Kejom Ketingo:

“I was eating when military men stormed the village shooting indiscriminately killing one person. One of them held me and I told him I was a journalist but he said I was Amba journalist in the village to cover separatist activities. They fell on me beating me, hitting my head on the ground. My wallet was taken and about 15000FCFA taken away. They dropped the empty wallet and my identity card on the ground before taking us to Tubah gendarmerie post. I went to the hospital on Monday after my release the previous day and the doctor told me the beatings affected the blood vessels of my eyes”. Mokom recounted his ordeal.

Photo Credit: Gnoukapasi Martial.  Mokom Thomas After His Released.

There has been no word from the North West Administration on the recent attacks on the Press in the Region.

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